West outlasts East in Hero Bowl behind Ridley’s Tahir Mills’ late TD
Photo’s courtesy of Rick Martin The chill in the air gave Delaware County’s 44th Hero Bowl a certain autumn tone. The crunching pads verified it. There is always an unspoken rivalry when the East Team, which is comprised of players primarily from the Del-Val League, which includes players from Cardinal O’Hara, Monsignor Bonner, Haverford School […]
Keon Wylie goes out a winner in leading Pennsylvania to a 28-7 Big 33 victory over Maryland
HARRISBURG, PA—Keon Wylie wanted to walk away with something from his high school experience playing football. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Imhotep Charter senior defensive end saw his season end in a bitter PIAA Class 5A state championship loss to Penn-Trafford, 17-14, in overtime last December. On Monday, Wylie got his wish. He walked away with something […]
Bishop Shanahan’s Cooper Jordan leads Team Allison to victory in the Chester County Valor Bowl
Photos courtesy of Rick Martin Despite the miserable conditions, there was no way Cooper Jordan was going to be miserable. The 5-foot-11 Bishop Shanahan senior quarterback was holding a piece of history in his hands Thursday night as the first recipient of the James G. “Chunky” Klunk MVP award at the Valor Bowl, Jordan ran […]
Independence conquers Freedom, 27-7, in PAC-10 Senior Bowl
Photo’s courtesy of Rick Martin Steele Depetrillo couldn’t make it. The local TV station camera at the other end of the field was inviting. The 5-foot-8, 205-pound Pope John Paul II senior linebacker was able to make it to the 40 before he gassed. Depetrillo had reason to celebrate. His 47-yard interception return for the […]
Josiah Trotter is heading to West Virginia
Josiah Trotter admits he had a big load on his mind lifted at 12-noon on Friday, when the St. Joe’s Prep 6-foot-2, 230-pound standout junior middle linebacker made it public by committing to West Virginia. “This is a big load off my mind because it is one less thing having to worry about my senior […]
Mike Ewing takes over as Cardinal O’Hara’s new coach and falls into his legendary grandfather’s shoes
For the first nine years of his life, Mike Ewing grew up in the Cardinal O’Hara football offices and locker rooms. He learned how to walk there. He learned how to talk there. And he learned the rudiments of football there, under his dad, the late Mike Ewing Sr., a longtime assistant coach and offensive […]
Governor Mifflin’s Nick Singleton is soaking in the awards at the Maxwell Club National Awards Dinner
Governor Mifflin’s Nicholas Singleton has moved on to become Penn State’s, Nicholas Singleton. The 6-foot, 215-pound running back was preparing to be in front of thousands at the Maxwell Football Club national awards dinner on Friday night at Atlantic City’s Harrah’s Resort. Singleton, who rushed for 2,043 yards and 41 touchdowns, averaging 13.2 yards per […]
Governor Mifflin’s Nick Singleton is the Maxwell Football Club National Offensive Player of the Year
For one of the rare times in his life, possibly the only time, Governor Mifflin’s Nicholas Singleton was caught flat-footed when it came to football. The eyes of hundreds looking up at the gifted 6-foot, 215-pound running back had him stuck. The humble Singleton didn’t know he would have to give a brief acceptance speech […]
EasternPAFootball.com’s Southeastern PA 2021 awards
By Joseph Santoliquito There has always been a tug-of-war between the Eastern part of the state and the Pittsburgh area when it comes to football dominance. This year, the west, in particular, the WPIAL won out, winning a record four state championships in one year (Central Valley (3A), Aliquippa (4A), Penn-Trafford (5A), and Mt. Lebanon […]
Imhotep Charter’s Enai White chooses Texas A&M
Sometimes familiarity breeds comfort. It did for Imhotep Charter star Enai White on Wednesday, when the 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior defensive end, considered by many recruiting experts as the best edge rusher in the nation, chose to attend Texas A&M over Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State. White said the feel of the College Station, Texas, campus […]
Mt. Lebanon makes history with its first-ever state title, defeating St. Joe’s Prep. 35-17
Mt. Lebanon coach Bob Palko had the game ball tucked under his arm, and looked back over his shoulder at his victorious team Saturday night at Hersheypark Stadium, after the Blue Devils’ historic 35-17 PIAA Class 6A victory over traditional powerhouse St. Joseph’s Prep. What was it that made the Blue Devils so special, what […]
Central Valley wins its second-straight PIAA Class 3A title shutting out Wyomissing Area
Central Valley had not lost a football game since December 7, 2019—at the PIAA Class 3A state championship. Wyomissing Area had not lost a football game since November 27, 2020—to Central Valley, at the PIAA Class 3A state championship. Central Valley had a 26-game winning streak, the longest in the state. Wyomissing had a 15-game […]
Penn-Trafford captures first state title with a 17-14 OT victory over Imhotep Charter
Cade Yacamelli was losing sleep. Carter Green was sitting by himself in an empty parking lot urging his teammates forward. John Ruane was looking at game film and nodding his head, that this could be solved. In mid-September, Penn-Trafford had lost its second-straight game, sitting at 2-2. Its star player, Yacamelli, was convinced things would […]
Southern Columbia Takes Another Piece Of History Again With A Fivepeat Against Serra Catholic
As they walked off the Southern Columbia team bus on Friday morning, they were really hard to miss. Passengers looking down from planes could have spotted Gavin Garcia’s leopard-print suit and Connor Gallagher’s glittering gold disco ball ensemble from miles away. It kind of personified the Tigers. They’re confident. They look good and they play […]
St. Joseph’s Prep freshman safety Anthony Sacca is about to blow up
Photo’s courtesy of Bill Avington Anthony Sacca seemed to come from nowhere like he was shot from a cannon, and there he was with yet another interception that turned the course of the game into St. Joseph Prep’s favor. The Hawks decisive 49-13 PIAA Class 6A state semifinal playoff victory over Garnet Valley last Saturday gave […]
Southeastern PA Top 10 Week of Dec. 10, 2021
Southeastern PA Top 10 1. St. Joseph’s Prep (11-2) 2. Imhotep Charter (10-1) 3. Garnet Valley (14-1) 4. La Salle (9-2) 5. Neumann-Goretti (13-2) 6. Malvern Prep (8-2) 7. Coatesville (12-2) 8. Strath Haven (13-2) 9. Quakertown (12-1) 10. Ridley (12-2)
2021 PIAA State Championship Previews
This marks the sixth year that the PIAA will be working under the 6A system, with six state championship games taking place. There will be three defending state champions, Southern Columbia going for its fifth-straight title at Class 2A, St. Joseph’s Prep will be going for its fourth-straight state title at 6A and Central Valley […]
St. Joe’s Prep blows out Garnet Valley for a chance to fourpeat as PIAA 6A champions
What was supposed to be a showdown wasn’t. It took about a quarter, but once the maroon and silver hammer came down, it smashed everything in its wake Saturday night, as three-time defending PIAA Class 6A state champions St. Joseph’s Prep pounded a good Garnet Valley team, 49-13, in the state semifinals at Ridley’s Phil […]
Imhotep Charter is right on time for Hershey after a 36-0 victory over Strath Haven in 5A Eastern finals
The bus was late, so Imhotep Charter’s football team had to wait to take its trek down I-95 South to Ridley High School Friday night to meet Strath Haven for the PIAA 5A semifinal game. Finally, by 6:33 p.m., Imhotep began walking on the field for its scheduled 7 p.m. start. By then, an angry […]
Southeastern PA Top 10 Week of Dec. 3, 2021
Southeastern PA Top 10 1. St. Joseph’s Prep (10-2) 2. Imhotep Charter (9-1) 3. Garnet Valley (14-0) 4. La Salle (9-2) 5. Neumann-Goretti (13-1) 6. Malvern Prep (8-2) 7. Coatesville (12-2) 8. Strath Haven (13-1) 9. Quakertown (12-1) 10. Ridley (12-2)
Garnet Valley may be the new beast of the East, after beating Coatesville 54-15 in the District 1 6A championship
Shane Reynolds and Max Busenkell with the District 1 6A trophy The District 1 6A award was taken almost matter-of-fact like. As if it had already belonged to them, and the crowning coronation was a mere formality. Nothing nor anyone was going to spoil Garnet Valley’s celebration. The cold never had a chance to take […]
Southeastern PA Top 10 Week of Nov. 26, 2021
1. St. Joseph’s Prep (9-2) 2. Imhotep Charter (8-1) 3. Garnet Valley (13-0) 4. La Salle (9-2) 5. Malvern Prep (8-2) 6. Coatesville (12-1) 7. Neumann-Goretti (12-1) 8. West Chester Rustin (11-1) 9. Quakertown (12-1) 10. Ridley (11-2) Under consideration: Strath Haven (12-1).
Antonio Chadha is a difference-maker in St. Joe Prep’s 41-6 District 12 6A Title
High school kickers serve a perfunctory role for most high school football teams. They’re usually borrowed from the soccer team, splitting time between soccer practice and games and the football team on Friday nights. Not so at St. Joseph’s Prep. Senior Antonio Chadha has served a vital role with the Hawks ever since he first […]
Imhotep Charter gets offensive in winning the District 12 5A championship
Jabree Wallace-Coleman (left) & Mikal Davis (right) They knew what they had. It just had to cook a little bit. So, when Imhotep Charter’s offense began maturing, things would begin to look frightening as to just good the Panthers could be. It’s coming together now. Imhotep rolled over Father Judge 42-7 on Saturday in […]
Garnet Valley outlasts Quakertown, 58-39, in the District 1 6A semifinals
No. 6 Shane Reynolds and No. 4 Andrew Jackalous The Garnet Valley machine has been impervious to everything it confronted this season. But the machine was having problems Friday night. Uncharacteristic problems. There were 12 men in the huddle in their first drive, forcing an early timeout. Then there was the fake punt debacle, which […]
Ridley’s Tahir Mills is no longer a secret
Photo’s Courtesy of Ridley Football Everyone at North Penn’s Crawford Stadium last Friday night knew what was going to happen next. The North Penn defense knew what Ridley was going to do. Ridley’s offense knew that North Penn knew, too. It didn’t matter. No one was going to stop Ridley’s 6-foot, 205-pound senior tailback […]
Southeastern PA Top 10 Week of Nov. 19, 2021
1. St. Joseph’s Prep (8-2) 2. Imhotep Charter (7-1) 3. Garnet Valley (12-0) 4. La Salle (9-2) 5. Malvern Prep (8-2) 6. Coatesville (11-1) 7. Neumann-Goretti (10-1) 8. Quakertown (12-0) 9. Ridley (11-1) 10. West Chester Rustin (10-1) Under consideration: Strath Haven (11-1), Academy Park (9-2), Plymouth-Whitemarsh (10-1).
St. Joe’s Prep gets sweet revenge in a 35-7 win over La Salle, advancing to the District 12 6A championship
It could have been an unpleasant reminder that was collectively—and carefully—jotted on an index card tucked away on a shelf. St. Joe’s Prep knew it would face Catholic League Red Division rival La Salle again. The Hawks knew that they had to bring their best and had not been playing up to their traditional standards […]
Ridley stuns North Penn, 56-55, in an overtime classic
As the ball spun end-over-end through the goal posts, it set off an explosion. Everyone in green and white threw up their hands, green helmets flew, and they all rejoiced, while everyone in dark blue collapsed collectively on the chilly turf. Ridley pulled a stunner Friday night, beating No. 2 seed North Penn in the […]
Southeastern PA Top 10 Week of Nov. 5, 2021
1. La Salle (9-1) 2. St. Joseph’s Prep (7-2) 3. Imhotep Charter (6-1) 4. North Penn (11-0) 5. Malvern Prep (7-2) 6. Garnet Valley (11-0) 7. Coatesville (10-1) 8. Neumann-Goretti (9-1) 9. Quakertown (11-0) 10. Ridley (10-1) Under consideration: Perkiomen Valley (9-2), West Chester Rustin (9-1), Strath Haven (10-1), Archbishop Wood (5-5), Unionville (10-1), Central […]
Southeastern PA Top 10 Week of Nov. 5, 2021
1. La Salle (8-1) 2. St. Joseph’s Prep (6-2) 3. Imhotep Charter (6-1) 4. North Penn (10-0) 5. Malvern Prep (6-2) 6. Garnet Valley (10-0) 7. Archbishop Wood (5-4) 8. Coatesville (9-1) 9. Neumann-Goretti (8-1) 10. Quakertown (10-0) Under consideration: Ridley (9-1), Perkiomen Valley (8-2), West Chester Rustin (8-1), Strath Haven (9-1), Unionville (9-1), Pennridge […]
Southeastern PA Top 10 Week of Oct. 29, 2021
1. La Salle (7-1) 2. St. Joseph’s Prep (5-2) 3. Imhotep Charter (6-1) 4. North Penn (9-0) 5. Malvern Prep (5-2) 6. Garnet Valley (9-0) 7. Archbishop Wood (5-3) 8. Coatesville (8-1) 9. Neumann-Goretti (7-1) 10. Quakertown (9-0) Under consideration: Downingtown East (8-1), Ridley (8-1), Perkiomen Valley (7-2), West Chester Rustin (7-1), Strath Haven (8-1), […]
The Southeastern PA Top 10 Week of Oct. 22, 2021
1. La Salle (6-1) 2. St. Joseph’s Prep (4-2) 3. Imhotep Charter (6-1) 4. North Penn (8-0) 5. Malvern Prep (4-2) 6. Garnet Valley (8-0) 7. Archbishop Wood (5-3) 8. Coatesville (7-1) 9. Neumann-Goretti (6-1) 10. Quakertown (8-0) Under consideration: Downingtown East (7-1), Ridley (7-1), Central Bucks East (6-2), Perkiomen Valley (6-2), Central Bucks West […]
Coatesville gets a playoff primer in beating Chester, 34-28
Harry Susi and his Coatesville teammates will take it. No matter how ugly it looked at times. Coatesville could have used a test as the District 1 Class 6A playoffs near, and the perennial district title contender got one Saturday afternoon in a real slugfest against Chester, surviving a 34-28 scare. Coatesville upped its record […]
North Penn starts fast and settles for 28-14 victory over Central Bucks West
You blink. They score. It’s the way North Penn’s offense rolls. And that’s exactly what the Knights are doing this season—rolling over every defense they face. On Friday night, North Penn’s roll came fast, then it sputtered to a 28-14 victory over stubborn Central Bucks West to remain undefeated at 8-0, while the Bucks saw […]
The Southeastern PA Top 10 By Joseph Santoliquito Week of Oct. 15, 2021
1. La Salle (6-1) 2. St. Joseph’s Prep (3-2) 3. Imhotep Charter (5-1) 4. North Penn (7-0) 5. Malvern Prep (3-2) 6. Archbishop Wood (5-2) 7. Garnet Valley (7-0) 8. Coatesville (6-1) 9. Neumann-Goretti (5-1) 10. Quakertown (7-0) Under consideration: Downingtown East (5-1), Northeast (1-2), Ridley (6-1), Central Bucks East (6-1), Perkiomen Valley (5-2), Central […]
St. Joe’s Prep dominates Delaware powerhouse Middletown, 24-6, on ESPN
The two operative words kept echoing all week for St. Joe’s Prep, “rebound and respond.” And this was much needed towards that stream of thought. It wasn’t going to eradicate the loss last week, though it helped ease some of the frustration. St. Joe’s Prep received a healthy dose of redemption Friday night, and the […]
Southeastern PA Top 10 Week of Oct. 8, 2021
1. La Salle (6-0) 2. St. Joseph’s Prep (2-2) 3. Imhotep Charter (4-1) 4. Malvern Prep (3-1) 5. North Penn (6-0) 6. Archbishop Wood (4-2) 7. Garnet Valley (6-0) 8. Coatesville (5-1) 9. Neumann-Goretti (4-1) 10. Quakertown (6-0) Under consideration: Downingtown East (5-1), Northeast (1-2), Ridley (5-1), Central Bucks East (5-1), Owen J. Roberts (5-1), […]
La Salle’s seniors get their goal in beating St. Joe’s Prep for the first time in six years, 28-21
The bus was rocking. The rap was flowing out of tune. La Salle’s football team had plenty of reason to celebrate and everyone that walked past their team buses on Saturday afternoon parked in front of the University of Pennsylvania’s historic Franklin Field were in their blast radius. For the first time since Nov, 21, […]
Garnet Valley survives an early knockdown to come back and beat Ridley, 65-37
No one raised their voice, because no one had to. For the first time this season on Friday night, Garnet Valley trailed in a football game. For the first time Friday night, Garnet Valley trailed at halftime. For the first time Friday night, Garnet Valley was not only punched in the face, for the first […]
The Philly Voice Southeastern PA Top 10: Week of Oct. 1, 2021
1. La Salle (5-0) 2. St. Joseph’s Prep (2-1) 3. Imhotep Charter (3-1) 4. Malvern Prep (3-1) 5. North Penn (5-0) 6. Archbishop Wood (3-2) 7. Garnet Valley (5-0) 8. Coatesville (4-1) 9. Neumann-Goretti (3-1) 10. Quakertown (5-0) Under consideration: Downingtown East (4-1), Northeast (1-2), Academy Park (4-0), Ridley (5-0), Bonner-Prendie (4-1).
The Nick Singleton show flies over Episcopal Academy 49-26
Every time Nick Singleton carries the ball, it’s like he’s the engine of a great wave. A mass of players moves along with the gifted Penn State-bound Governor Mifflin 6-foot, 210-pound senior running back, and he always seems to emerge on the other side of the surge—usually untouched. Singleton introduced himself rather abruptly to Southeastern […]
Joseph Santoliquito’s Southeastern PA Top 10 – Week of Sept. 24, 2021
1. La Salle (4-0) 2. St. Joseph’s Prep (2-1) 3. Imhotep Charter (2-1) 4. Malvern Prep (2-1) 5. North Penn (4-0) 6. Garnet Valley (4-0) 7. Downingtown East (4-0) 8. Archbishop Wood (3-1) 9. Coatesville (3-1) 10. Neumann-Goretti (2-1) Under consideration: Northeast (0-2), Academy Park (3-0), Germantown Academy (3-0), Bonner-Prendie (3-1), Quakertown (4-0), Strath Haven […]
Malvern Prep creates an identity in a 21-0 victory over Archbishop Wood
Every football season is an odyssey of discovery. No coach truly knows what they have until a few games are played, or sometimes a month into the schedule. On Saturday, Malvern Prep coach Dave Gueriera received a firm idea where he sees his Friars going after they beat a very good Archbishop Wood team, 21-0, […]
St. Joe’s Prep smacks around Gonzaga (DC) 35-3
Maybe some good surfaced from last week’s loss. In a twisted way, maybe having its 18-game winning streak dating back to 2019 snapped ignited something dormant within the St. Joseph’s Prep team that needed to be kicked around a little to hit the refocus switch. Because the Hawks made very easy work of visiting Gonzaga […]
Southeastern PA Top 10 Week of Sept. 17, 2021
1. La Salle (3-0) 2. St. Joseph’s Prep (1-1) 3. Archbishop Wood (3-0) 4. Imhotep Charter (2-1) 5. North Penn (3-0) 6. Garnet Valley (3-0) 7. Downingtown East (3-0) 8. Coatesville (2-1) 9. Neumann-Goretti (1-1) 10. Malvern Prep (1-1) Under consideration: Neumann-Goretti (1-1), Northeast (0-2), Academy Park (3-0), Upper Dublin (3-0), Chester (3-0), Germantown Academy […]
La Salle outlasts Imhotep Charter, 13-8, in a battle of Southeast PA giants
Reflective moments don’t come often in the ever-moving ebbs and flows of a high school football season. The rare times those flashes do occur, you seize them like La Salle did Saturday afternoon in its 13-8 victory over Imhotep Charter at Springfield (Montco) High School. Neither the Explorers nor Imhotep was exactly at their best, […]
The Southeastern PA Top 10 Week of Sept. 10, 2021
1. St. Joseph’s Prep (1-0) 2. Imhotep Charter (2-0) 3. La Salle (2-0) 4. Archbishop Wood (2-0) 5. North Penn (2-0) 6. Garnet Valley (2-0) 7. Downingtown East (2-0) 8. Coatesville (2-0) 9. Neumann-Goretti (1-1) 10. Malvern Prep (0-1) Under consideration: Academy Park (2-0), Chester (2-0), Spring-Ford (2-0), Germantown Academy (1-0), Quakertown (2-0), Upper Dublin (2-0), Strath Haven (2-0), […]
St. Joe Prep’s “Grunt Runts” score a knockout in Hawks’ season opening 40-0 win over St. Mary Ryken (MD)
There was a time when a 6-foot-1, 220-pound high school defensive lineman was considered large. That time was about 40 years ago. By today’s standards, on a major high school level on a team that plays a national schedule, that’s considered small. At St. Joe’s Prep, the offensive and defensive linemen call themselves “The Hogs.” […]
Archbishop Wood’s killer pillars Tyrese Whitaker and Eric Gardner get their revenge on Neumann-Goretti in 28-6 victory
Tyrese Whitaker and Eric “Scoop” Gardner had it on their minds before they even stepped on the field Saturday. The Archbishop Wood junior defensive ends, a pair that will be causing chaos for the next two years to everyone the Vikings face, remembered well the nightmare of a 44-0 pasting Neumann-Goretti put on them while […]
